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Raptors had a hand in Kelly Olynyk's development

Kelly Olynyk #13 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs walks past Derick Beltran #2 of the Southern Jaguars after defeating them in the second round of the 2013 Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on March 21, 2013 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Photograph by: Streeter Lecka
, Getty Images

KAMLOOPS -- The Toronto Raptors were responsible for pointing Kelly Olynyk toward a career in the National Basketball Association, although, as luck would have it, the drafting of the seven-foot centre from South Kamloops high school by way of Gonzaga University is out of their hands.

Barring a trade, the Raps will be spectators for the two rounds of the 2013 draft, to be held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on June 27. Canada’s only NBA team does not have a pick among the 60 players involved.

“They might try and package some guys and get a draft pick,” said Ken Olynyk, Kelly’s dad. “Those are one of the things you don’t know about in the draft. Are they interested in Kelly? I have no idea. They have a new GM (Masai Ujiri). I think his job right now is to point that organization in a different direction and improve it as best he can.”

The athletic director of Thompson Rivers University, Ken Olynyk was an invited luncheon guest Tuesday of the B.C. Lions, who are about to wrap up their fourth straight training camp at the TRU campus and adjacent Hillside Stadium on Wednesday.

Kamloops has developed a reputation as the self-styled “tournament capital of Canada”, the city where Mark Recchi grew up, the place where Jarome Iginla played his junior hockey, the community where strongman Dylan Armstrong learned to fling the shot put, and a preparation destination for the Lions for the upcoming Canadian Football League season.

Kelly Olynyk is about to join that select company of high achieving athletes next Thursday, providing the city of 85,000 in the Thompson-Nicola district of south central B.C. with yet another claim to fame, even though, ironically, he was not crazy about moving here.

“His concern was, who was going to see him playing basketball in Kamloops?” Ken recalled. “I just told him, ‘If you’re good, people will find you.’”

After 15 years in the Toronto area, Ken Olynyk, a native of Revelstoke, moved his family to Kamloops in 2003 to accept his current position at the university. From the time the Raptors joined the NBA, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, in 1995, the Olynyk family was wrapped up in aspects of the team’s operation. The former coach of Canada’s junior men’s basketball team, Ken spent a season as a guest coach under Raptors head coach Lenny Wilkens. His wife, Arlene, was a scorekeeper for the team and Kelly played age-group basketball in the Toronto area with players such as Tristan Thompson, who went on to become the highest drafted Canadian ever by an NBA team (fourth overall, 2011, by Cleveland).

“Kelly was around the game and around pros like Doug Christie, Alvin Williams, Vince Carter, Antonio Davis the whole time, when he was young,” Ken Olynyk said. “I think that is the whole impetus why he is where he is today. Being there, seeing the Raptors, being in and around their locker room on a regular basis, all of those things have really helped shape him in terms of what his goals were, are and will continue to be. That environment -- 100 per cent -- instilled in him the desire. He took to heart that if he wants this, if he works hard at it, he can achieve it.”

Kelly is scheduled to work out Wednesday in Atlanta for the Hawks, who have the 17th and 18th picks in the first round. On Thursday, he’s off to Minnesota for a once-over by the Timberwolves, who hold the No. 9 overall pick. Sunday, it’s the turn of the Boston Celtics, who have the No. 16 slot in the first round. Chicago (No. 20) is another possibility.

It’s within that wide No. 9 to No. 20 range that Olynyk is likely to fall, sometime after Anthony Bennett, a freshman power forward from Nevada-LasVegas. Bennett, who grew up in Brampton, Ont., is projected to be a top 10 pick.

“What you don’t know in the draft are the surprises,” Ken explained. “A couple of Europeans might be taken early, and that would adjust and change the dynamic. We’ve heard some people say Kelly won’t be around at No. 11 or 12. Others say he’ll be taken in the 19-25 range. It’s all speculation. The only people who really know are the NBA teams. The agents don’t know. Kelly doesn’t know. But it doesn’t matter where. We just hope he goes to the best situation.”

Compensation for draft picks is predetermined on a sliding scale based on slot position. For instance, while the No. 1 pick will be paid in the $4.2 million range per annum, the No. 13 or No. 14 drafted player receives a fixed entry level salary of $1.6 million or $1.5 million, respectively.

Ken Olynyk screened the myriad calls from agents, financial advisors and marketing firms wanting to represent his son. But, ultimately, it was Kelly’s decision to chose one from the short list. He went with Arn Tellem, the well-known Los Angeles sports agent who represents 42 NBA players, among them Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose, Pau Gasol and Jason Collins, the first athlete who has acknowledged being gay while still active in one of North America’s four major professional sports.

Interestingly, Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, known for his deft passing, three-point shooting, throw-down dunks and shot rejection, has never had an agent, preferring to have his financial affairs kept within the family. Olynyk’s game has been likened to the big German’s.

If given a choice, Dallas might be his preferred destination. The Mavericks hold the 13th overall pick in the draft.

“It would be a great learning experience for Kelly, to have that opportunity,” said Ken Olynyk.

Wherever it is, the motor and the momentum set in motion by the Toronto Raptors will go with him to the NBA.

Kelly Olynyk #13 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs walks past Derick Beltran #2 of the Southern Jaguars after defeating them in the second round of the 2013 Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on March 21, 2013 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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